Monday, May 31, 2010

MOMIX Botanica

Last night, AR and I went to the Joyce Theater to see the dance performance Botanica by MOMIX. I don't want to call this post a review, because I'm not qualified to review dance. I don't in fact go to many dance productions, but after last night I realize that I need to make a point of going more often because I enjoy them. This show in particular was excellent, the choreography superb. The MOMIX website states: “Known internationally for presenting work of exceptional inventiveness and physical beauty, MOMIX is a company of dancer-illusionists under the direction of Moses Pendleton. For 20 years, MOMIX has been celebrated for its ability to conjure up a world of surrealistic images using props, light, shadow, humor and the human body.” Last night’s show, Botanica, combined modern interpretive dance with props and costumes in a dreamlike paean to evolution and nature's cyclical existence, moving through all four seasons. Parts of it were humorous (even silly at times), but other parts were emotional (also in part because of the music), and all of it was charged with heightened eroticism (half-naked, very fit, beautiful people always helps). The Centaurs, where dancers made up the horse-half of the humanoid dancers, were amazing in their animalistic choreography. In some ways, the performance was like dance meets Julie Taymor meets Cirque du Soleil—a fascinating combination to say the least. The image above is from the opening sequence associated with winter (image: Broadwayworld.com). Shockingly, we paid only $59 for the tickets and had excellent seats in the orchestra section. Less expensive seats were available too. To pay so little to see a great show in NYC is almost unheard of, so it made the experience even more enjoyable. The YouTube video below shows you highlights of the performance, but if you want to see more, there is another longer YouTube video that gives you a sense of the entire show. If you get a chance to see MOMIX on tour, do so. You may find it a little odd at times, but you won’t be disappointed.

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about me

I'm a writer, art historian, curator, and librarian. My colorful career past has included stints as an adjunct professor, bird handler, disc jockey, fortune teller, pianist, and receptionist. I hold a PhD in art history, and an MLS degree. I am currently employed at Columbia University, Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, as the Curator of Art Properties. Anything that appears on this blog represents my own personal opinions and thoughts, and is in no way affiliated with or represents Columbia and its students, faculty, and staff. And I am now, most definitely, a happily partnered GWM.